On 16th June 1868, 50 000 pairs of hands carried a stone to this spot from Mount Rip, where the mythical father of the nation, Cech, is said to have seen his promised land. On 11 June 1881 the National Theatre, built by Josef Zitek, opened its doors for its inaugural performance of the opera Libuse by Smetana. Destroyed just nine days later by a fire, the theatre was rebuilt thanks to funds raised nationally. The stage curtain illustrates the role the Czech people played in the creation of this national institution.